Get the HttpServletRequest (request) object from Java code

Question

I need to get hold of the request object in Java code. I can\'t pass this object down to my code for certain reasons. Is there any way I can say something like: getCur

Answer 1

Assuming you're not able to pass the request object down the call stack, then some kind of sharing mechanism becomes necessary, which is not ideal, but sometimes necessary.

Spring provides the RequestContextFilter for just this purpose. It uses ThreadLocal, and allows the code to fetch the current request via RequestContextHolder. Note that this filter does not require you to use any other part of Spring:

Servlet 2.3 Filter that exposes the request to the current thread, through both LocaleContextHolder and RequestContextHolder. To be registered as filter in web.xml.

This filter is mainly for use with third-party servlets, e.g. the JSF FacesServlet. Within Spring's own web support, DispatcherServlet's processing is perfectly sufficient.

If you're going to use ThreadLocal, then better to use an existing, working solution, rather than risk bugs creeping in, which ThreadLocal code is prone to.